Engine starter



Oct. 21', 1930. R. P. LANSING 1,778,900

v ENGINE STARTER y Filed Sept. 27, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 21, 1930. y P. LANSING 1,778,900v

ENGINE STARTER Filed sept. 27,1926 4 sheets-sheet 2 oct. 21, y193,0.. R p, LANSING- 1,778,900

' ENGINE STARTER Y Filed'sept. 27, 1926 4 sheets-sheet s n Y ga-v180* xc mfmm.

ct. 21, 1930. R. P. LANSING 1,778,900

ENGINE STARTER Filed sept. 27, 1926 sheets-sheet 4 retenes een ai. ieee wane nNi'TED STATES PATENT oFF/ics RAYMON) P. LANSING, OF MONTCIAIB, NEW JERSEY, ASSIIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ELMIB'A,l NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINE STARTER rassure Application tiled September 27, 1926. Serial Ho.^18'l,866.

My invention relates to engine starting'apparatusvfor the starting of internal com bustion engines and more particularly but not necessarily airplane engines, and the object thereof is to provide a simple, efficient and reliable apparatus of this character for either power or manual operation and characterized by the provision in the drive or transmission proper of a driving member or element-adapted to be automatically engaged' with a member of tlie engine to be started by n ovel and eiiicient means l combined with and controlled by the actuating means for said drive, whereby when a predeterminedl speed of the apparatus and its inertia means or Hywheel is reached, such driving member will be automatically moved into engagement .with the engine member and the engine thereby cranked.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section taken o n the irregular line 1-1 of Fig. 5 and illustrating an apparatus embodyingl my invention; Fig. 2 a section on t e 'ne 2- 2 of Fig. 1I but on a. larger scale; Fig. 3 a Sectional plan view on the line 3&-3 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the 'governor shaft; Fig. 5 an end elevation vof the apparatus; Fig.- 6 a top plan view partl in sec tion of the governor mechanism; ig. 7 an an elevation of the yweights; Fig. 8 arsectionalelevation on the line 8 8 ofFig. 6; Fig. 9 a detailed section on the line 9--9 of F ig. 10; Fi .10 a detailed plan on the line 10 -10| of ig. 9; and Fig. 11 a detail view sa of .the mounting of the yweights.

AFirst describing the drive or transmission portion of the apparatus the same/includes the drive. proper and the' actuating mechanism therefore including thel reduction gearee ing andan inertia means 'such as a 'ywheeh which mechanism is operated b either inan- 4nal means cr-powei'v means suc as an electric motor either independently orcoiijointly; The drive is located lwithin a main casing 1.

es which is suitably supported as by being tachably connectedwith the crank case 2 of the engine,v a-small p ortionof which is il i lustrated, within a circular opening 3. In

'thisi'epening there rotates. a driving barrel se e andanut 5 concentrically arranged there- 12.` The clutch member is adap consists ci '20 and in which such gearing is supported within and providing an annular spaceto receive a yieldable drive connection whichis here in the form ofa friction clutch 6. This clutch is composedof two sets of lates or disks which are splined respective y to the interior of the barrel and the exterior of the nut. The proper pressure for the disksis provided b a series of springs 7 located in such annu ar space, and such rpressure is regulated by the adjustable n'ut 8 screwing into the outer end of the barrel. The thrust of these springs tends to force .the nut outwardly whereby the disks are forced together according to the pressure of said springs.

The nutl 5 is provided with intern-al long lead screw threads, Within which is threaded the driving member here comprising an externally'threaded `'shaft 13 and a clutch member 14 mounted on the front end of such shaft in such manner as t be rotated thereby and 1o to have a Irelative longitudinal movement with respect theretoas 'y means of splines ted to engage a rotatable member on 'the engine to be started such as the clutch member 15, said clutch members having inclinedv clutch teeth 16 and 17 which engage in the cranking operation and which are adapted to automatically disengaged by reason of the inclined formation yof such teeth and also by reason of the screw action between the shaft 13 and the mit 5. A rod 23 extends centrally lthrough the drive and through the reduction gearing hereinafter described, and particularly passes centrally through the screw shaft 13 and its `clutch member Mathe same terminating in a nut. 18 screwing on tothe outer end of such rod and limiting the outward relative move ment of such clutch member 14 as is caused bythe spiral spring 19.

Bescribing the reduction means,

thefsams Gearing which is contained with in a. second casing l which is secured'to the main casing 1 as by Vmeansof screws and in which it has its bearings. main stationary internal gear 21 is secured by screws 22`to the casingl and with the saine there meshes a) series o'th'ree planetary pinions whch'aie journaled by means of i studs to the end plate 26 of the driving barrel 4, which practically closes the inner end of such barrel except for the center opening through which the rod 23 and the central driving shaft 27 extend. These pinions 24 mesh with a central pinion 28 which, as shown, is formed as a art of the hub of a large gear 29 mounte to rotate freely upon the shaft 27 to the medium of an antifriction bearing 30. This gear 29 in turn meshes with a inion 31 herev formed as a part of the hu of a large `bevel gear 32 which is secured to a cross shaft 33 having bearings 34-and 35 in two opposite walls ofl the casing 1a. The right hand end of this shaft 33.is extended and the same is part of the apparatus utilized for cooperation with the governor mechanism hereinafter described, although it will be understood that some other rotatmg part of'the apparatus may be utilized for this purpose including the inertia means or iiywheel.

Describing the manual means the same includes a cranking shaft 36 journaledin a casinglbsecured in suitable manner to thecasing 1L and-extendingtherefrom and provided .near its outer end with pins 37 to receive an ordinary hand crank. This cranking shaft is provided. at its inner end with .a bevel inion 38 which-meshes with a correspondlng bevel 'pinion 39, here formed la a part of' the central shaft .27. l

Next describing the inertia. lmeans the same comprises a iiywheel and operating connections with a bevel gear 32 and with the prime mover, such inertia means being contained within and su ported by a casing 1c in suitable manner as y means of screws 40. The iywheel comprises a ring 41 havL ing the predetermined or desired mass`-or weight, web 42 and a depending h ub 43. This hub has its bearings in the bottom plate of the, casing 1c and is drivingl secured as by splining to the hub of a gevel pinion 44 which meshes with the bevel gear 32. This pinion 44 and hub 43 are 'held together in assembled position by the bolt 45.

The prime movertwhich is -here an electric motor 46 is secured to the casing 1c in suitable manner. as by screws 47 .and the sainehas an extended armature shaft provided with a screw threaded portion 48.' Upon such portion there is threaded a nut 49 provided with clutchfjaws 50 adapted' to engage corresponding clutch jaws 51 cooperating with the flywheel and here shown as a part of a ring 52 secured to theweb 42 of the iywheel. A In so far as my present invention is concerned, the Vparticular constrution of the 'reduction gearing and the manual means and the power means which constitute what may be termed starting means is immaterial, but the construction described is very practical and useful for the purpose intended particularly with respect to the governor mechanism now to be described.

Thegovernor mechanism which controls the engagement of the driving member with lthe engine member cooperates with and is driven by the shaft `33 of the reduction earing in the present instance, the same' a ord shaft 33 and consequently of the fiywheel) reaches a predetermined degree.

Referring to the construction of governor herein illustrated the same includes two sleeves 53 and 54 and a pair of interposed liyweights 55, which sleeves are mounted upon the peculiarly formed extension of the shaft 33 which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. This 'shaft is provided near its outer end with a straight spline portion 56 and an intermediate spiral splined portion 57 such portions being separated by an undercut '58. The sleeve 53 is mounted uponthe straight spline portion 56 for rotation with shaft 33 and the other sleeve 54 is mounted on the spirally splined portion 57 for rotation with such shaft and for longitudinal movementthereon. The flyweights are operatively connected to the -flange 59 of the sleeve 54 by being pivotally mounted uponpins or lrivets 60 extending laterally from such flange 59. These flyweights are operatively connected with the flange 61 of the sleeve 53 by means of laterally projecting pins 62 carried by such fiyweights and extending laterally therefrom and through elongated openings 63 in such flange 61. The construction and arrangement of these parts is such, as hereinafter explained, that when the speed of the apparatus reaches a predetermined degree the flyweights will move outwardly by centrifugal force and ,cause angular displacement between the sleeves 53 and 54 and thereby cause longitudinal travel of the sleeves 54 to the left (Fig. 1). The iiyweightsare held in their center position by the two coil springs 64 which are here shown as connected at their opposite ends with the pins 60 and 62a.

The Vgovernor is operatively connected with the rod 23'by a set' of suitable connections which in the-present instance are as follows: The sleeve 54 is recessed to receive a shifter yoke 65 to which is secured by the screws 66 a pair of depending arms 67 connected at their lower ends with a rock shaft 68 which is journaled in the casing 69 enclosing the governor mechanism. This rock shaft 68\extends extraneous of the casing 69 and is provided at its outer end with a crankarm 70. The linkage between this crank arm and the rod 23 consists of alink 71, bell crank 72, rock shaft 7 3 and lever arm 74 whose lower end has a pin and slot connection with the inner or right hand end of the rod 23 (Fig. 1) there being a longitudinal slot 75 in such arm and a pin 76 through the rod 23. As shown in Fig.' 3 the link 71 has at one end a longitudinal slotv 77 in which travels the stud 78 in one armof the bell crank 72 in order to provide lost motion between such link and the bell crank in the initial movement of the governor mechanism, to the end that while the governor mechanism will throw the driving member into engagement with the engine member the retracoperated rod 79 is connected to the bell crank 72. When this rod 79 is moved inwardly the rock shaft 73 willvbe rocked and the'rod 23 will be shifted outwardly, that is in a direction for meshing the driving member with the engine member. In this operation the governor mechanism does not interfere with the manual operation because the sleeve 54 lcan in such operation be moved longitudinally along SPP/e its spiral splines 57.

Describing a cycle of operation of the apparatus and starting irst with the utilization of the power means or electric motoras the source of. energy, and with the parts in their normal position as shown in Fig. 1, in which the clutch elements 16 and 17 are disengaged,- When the motor is energized the nut 49 will be automatically advanced to bring the clutch jaws 50 and 51 into driving engagement to establish driving relation between the electric motor and the ywheel. The flywheel will y thereupon rapidly rotated and the reduction gearing and associated mechanism will be rotated but comparatively slowly according to the degree of reduction. Likewise the governor mechanism will be rotated and, as it attains increasing speed its sleeve 54 shifts leitwardly (Fig. 1). When the R. P M. of the iiywheel reaches a predetermined degree, the governor mechanism operates to .cause the nal increment of longitudinal movement of the sleeve 54 to the left in Fig. 1 thereby shifting the rod 23 to the left through the linkage 'described and so operating to cause engagement between the driving member of the drive and the engine member. 'When the engine operates on its own power the driving member will be automatically demeshed by reason of s ion ofthe clutch jaws 16 and 17 and the screw action between the shaft 13 and its nut 5.

Means may be provided for adjusting the tension of the springs and thereby predetermining the speed at which the engine engagem t will occur. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, such means consists of bell crank shaped pivots 80 which are angularly adjustable and threaded in the non-pivoted ends of the ilyweights and which are held in the adjusted position by nuts 81, the outer ends of the springs 64 being connected with such pivots, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

I clin: f I 1. An engine starting apparatus including ber of the engine to be started, actuating mechanism for rotating said driving member including-inertia means, starting means for ya drive havmg a driving member bodily movable to engage and rotatable to crank a memoperating such mechanism, and speed controlled meansoperatively associated with y said actuating mechanism for controllingtheI l bodily movement of such driving member to lcause engagement thereof withthe engine.

member. l

2. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage` and crank a member ofthe engine to be started, actuating mechanism therefor including inertia means,starting means for operating such mechanism, and

d controlledmeans operatively assoclated with said.f'actuating mechanism and having operating connections for controlling the engagement movement of such'di'iving member with respect to the engine member. 3. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving vmember adapted to engage and the engine to be started, actuating mechanism therefor including inertia means, startin means for operating such mechanism, an means extraneous to the line of torque-transmission to said driving member and responsive to the speed of such actuating mechanism for controlling the movement of such driving member to cause engagement thereof with the engine member. l l

Y 4. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating mechanism therefor including inertia means, startin means for operating such. mechanism, an

Vmeans responsive to the speed of such mech'-v anism arranged remote from said drivingv member and having operating connections' for controlling the engagement movement of such driving member with respect to theV engine member.

- 5.- An engine lstarting lapparatus crank a member of including a drive having a movable member adapted to enga and crank a mem r of the engine to be s actnatingmech therefor including inertia means, starting means for operating such mechanism, a movable rod operatively connected with said driving member for causing engagement thereof with the engine member, and speed controlled means for controlling the movement of said rod.

6. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to vbe started, actuating 'mechanism therefor 4including inertia means, starting means for operating 'such mechanism, a reciprocating rod operatively connected with said driving member for causing engagement thereof With'the enginemember, and speed controlled means for controlling the reciprocation of said rod. 7 An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage and crank a-member of the engine to be started, actuatingl mechanism therefor including inertia means, starting means for operating such mechanism, said driving member havingl a reciprocating movement for. engagement thereof with and from the engme member, and speed controlled meansfor controlling the reciprocation of the driving member at predetermined times.

8. An engine starting apparatus .including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating mechanism therefor including inertia means and reduct1on means, startlng means for operatlng such mechanism... and means responsive to the speed of such reduction means for controlling the movement of such driving member to cause engagement thereofwith the engine member.

9. An engine starting apparatus includin a drive having a movable driving member shiftable to engage and rotatable to crank al member of the engine to be started, actuating mechanism for rotating said driving member including 'inertia means and reduction means,

starting means for operating such mechanism, and means responsive to the speed of such reduction means for controlling the shifting movement of such driving member to'cause engagement thereof with the engine member.

10. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage andl crank a member of the engine toV be startedyactuating mechanism therefor including inertia means and cluding a train of gearreduction means ing, starting means for operating such mechanism, and means cooperating with and responsive to the speed of a member of such.

train of gearing for controlling the movement of such driving member.

11. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating mechanism therefor including inertia means and reduction meansincluding a gear wheel and its shaft, starting means for operating such mechanism, and means cooperating with and responsive to the speed of such shaft for coniaarolling the movement of such driving memer. 12. An engine starting apparatus including a-drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating mechanism thereforA including inertia means, starting means for operating such mechanism, said driving memberhaving rotary and reciprocating movements, a reciprocating rodl connected axially with the driving men't thereof.

14. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to' be started, actuating mechanism therefor including inertia means and reductionmeans including a rotatable shaft, starting means for operating such mechanism, and speed responsive means mounted on said shaft and'operatively connected with the driving member for controlling the movement thereof, said speed responsive means including a sleeve mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and longitudinal movement thereon, centrifugally operated weights rotatably lconnected with said sleeve and cooperating therewith`to Amove it longitudinally when the predetermined shaft speed is reached, and an operating connection between said-sleeve and driving member.

15. An engine starting apparatus including a drive having a movable'dr1v1ng member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started;actuating mechanism therefor including inertia means and reduction mea-ns including a rotatable shaft, starting means for operating such mechanism, and speed responsive means mounted on said shaft and operatively connected with the driving/member for -controlling the movement thereof, said .speed responsive means including a sleeve threaded onto the shaft, cen- 

